Some Californians are actively fighting a new federal law that requires drone owners to register their remote controlled planes. People opposed to the law say it is an invasion of privacy

Some Californians are actively fighting a new federal law that requires drone owners to register their remote controlled planes. People opposed to the law say it is an invasion of privacy

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Updated: 7:35 PM PST Dec 23, 2015

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WEBVTT KELLIE: NEW AT 6:00 -- DRONE DEBATE. MANY OWNERS FIGHTING BACK OVER NEW REGULATIONS REQUIRING THEM TO REGISTER THEIR DRONES. IT'S EXPECTED TO BE ONE OF THE HOT HOLIDAY GIFTS OF THE SEASON. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PREDICTING AS MANY AS 400,000 PEOPLE COULD BE GETTING DRONES FOR CHRISTMAS. GULSTAN: BUT AS KCRA 3'S MIKE LUERY SHOWS US TONIGHT, SOME PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING THE FEDS ABOUT REGISTERING THEIR REMOTE CONTROLLED AIRCRAFT. MIKE: IT SOUNDS LIKE THE BUZZING OF BEES, A MAD SWARM OF HORNETS ABOUT TO ATTACK. BUT IT IS A DRONE, ONE OF THE HOTTEST ITEMS FOR CHRISTMAS. IN FACT, HOBBY TOWN USA HAS SOLD MORE THAN 100 DRONES SO FAR AT THIS ROCKLAND LOCATION. IT NOW NEW BUYERS ARE FACING NEW RULES. ANYTHING OVER 250 GRAMS OR .55 OF A POUND IS REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED. MIKE: WHETHER IT IS REMOTE CONTROL AIRPLANES OR DRONES, NEW FEDERAL RULES REQUIRE THEM TO BE REGISTERED FIRST WITH THE GOVERNMENT. BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE ACTIVELY FIGHTING THAT NEW EDICT. JIM BOWERS OWNS 18 DRONES AND HE IS HOPING TO MAKE COLFAX THE MOST DRONE-FRIDLEY CITY IN CALIFORNIA. HE IS LEADING THE CHARGE OF BEHALF OF SWARM . MY MAIN CONCERN ABOUT REGISTERING MY DRONES IS, ONE, PRIVACY, TWO, GOVERNMENT OVERREACH. MIKE: HE SAYS HE IS AWARE OF DRONES INTERFERING IN EMERGENCY RESPONSES TO WILDFIRES. BUT RESPONSIBLE OPERATORS LIKE MYSELF DOING SEARCH-AND-RESCUE, WE SHOULDN'T BE BURDENED WITH OVERREGULATION AND FEES. MIKE: THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION REQUIRES A FEE FOR DRONE REGISTRATION, WHICH INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. SWARM IS URGING DRONE OPERATORS NOT TO REGISTER THEIR AIRCRAFT UNTIL THE FAA CAN MODIFY HIS RULES. GULSTAN: THE FINES ARE PRETTY STEEP.